Joe Pohlad's Comments on Non-Sale of Twins Are an Affront to Fans' Intelligence

[LastOnePicked]

2 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

A true and sustained mass exodus of the fan base will hurt the Pohlad's financially and that is all they will listen too. 

Here's the problem: that's already happened. Attendance is worse than a lot of the Metrodome days. The Pohlads will lobby for more revenue sharing, and they'll pocket the cash to make up for their loss of equity to their minority partners.

They intend to run this as a failing business, because even in MLB, their assets will appreciate and their pockets will be lined with league revenue cash.

That's the tragedy of all this. There is nothing - nothing - that fans can do that will hurt the Pohlads financially at this point. We may have animosity for them, but we don't even factor into their equations. They will field a fanless, worthless team for years and years to come.

Tragic. At least, for those in MN who love professional baseball.

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, NotAboutWinning said:

This makes no sense whatsoever. Why would anyone pay above market price to hitch their wagon to this s***show? Without a controlling interest and no path to one? 2 groups were willing to do this, somewhere in the neighborhood of $400m? There has to be more to this!

I'd say either

a) They're two separate groups of idiots who've somehow accumulated  hundreds of millions of dollars who are now going to invest those millions in a money-losing operation

Or

b) They're two separate groups who feel sorry for the Pohlads and are investing out of the goodness of their collective hearts

Or

c) They're two separate groups who've managed to accumulate hundreds of millions who believe it'll be a sound investment that'll pay off in the future.  Meaning the Twins ain't losing money.

I'll go witb c.

 

[dxpavelka]

14 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Found the original draft of the letter before AI "fixed" it... (wink, wink, (sarcasm))

The announcement last fall said nothing of selling the team.  I said the would "explore" selling the team.  Only a fool would not realize the difference.

[Diane]

20 hours ago, The Great Hambino said:

Even if Joe truly has the best intentions of running the team as best he can, the fact that the Astros owner went over his head to Jim to make the Correa deal happen tells us who's really running this team.

Even if he wants the Twins to win, he wants even more to prove to his uncles that he's a big boy

well in my book, he's failing at THAT!  Long term season ticket holder here who quit buying them 2 years ago because of retirement.  I was sad then, not so much now.  I am old, so I can sit at home and watch the Brewers just as easily as I can watch the Twins, and probably be happier.  I feel sorry for the young players who have basically been brought into a losing situation when they THOUGHT they were going to be on a good team.

[Jeff K]

17 hours ago, palmspringstwinsfan said:

A big question to me is how this team managed to run up such a huge debt, given the extraordinary amount of money they receive every year from MLB. Some things I’ve read suggest those payments are far more than the payroll. I understand that the local TV money is way down, as is attendance, and there is debt service to pay. But I have to conclude that the 12 or so Pohlads who own the team must be getting big dividend payouts. No wonder they didn’t want to give up their gravy train. 

To your point, I would like to understand where the debt came from.  It is not remotely clear that it came from true baseball operations.

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, NotAboutWinning said:

This makes no sense whatsoever. Why would anyone pay above market price to hitch their wagon to this s***show? Without a controlling interest and no path to one? 2 groups were willing to do this, somewhere in the neighborhood of $400m? There has to be more to this!

Seems to me, similar to what you are intimating, once one looks past the disappointment and angst of fan base …….nobody throws $400M at something that is poorly marketed and whose customer’s are pissed off and walking away……. without some agreed to path to change. It’s not in the minority owners best interest to just turn over a huge amount of $$ to the Pohlads ownership w/o some framework of a plan for success. Can’t just be “we’ll write you a check and then let’s shoot from the hip & hope” ……. gotta expect moves to get the Team competitive in ‘26 to maintain and better revenues…….. only path to decent ROI - right?!?!

The ownership is no longer the Pohlad’s in a vacuum and the 2 groups that “invested” are not clueless & carefree with $400M - just not realistic! Gotta expect some positive change.

[saviking]

Yes, they tried to put a good spin on a bad situation. Tried to sell, asked too much and failed. Did the next best thing and sold 20% to reduce debt which in and of itself is good. But after all of that I doubt they will spend big money only to back into more debt. 

I woukd be interested in knowing how they built up that much debt in the first place. Some say the debt was from other businesses. Donthe Twins generat positive cash flow? Have the plugged the holes on where the debt originated? So many questions going forward. 

But, what's for certain, they have lost the faith of the fans. 

[Whitey333]

Great article.  Well written and thought out.

[rv78]

9 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

Here's the problem: that's already happened. Attendance is worse than a lot of the Metrodome days. The Pohlads will lobby for more revenue sharing, and they'll pocket the cash to make up for their loss of equity to their minority partners.

They intend to run this as a failing business, because even in MLB, their assets will appreciate and their pockets will be lined with league revenue cash.

That's the tragedy of all this. There is nothing - nothing - that fans can do that will hurt the Pohlads financially at this point. We may have animosity for them, but we don't even factor into their equations. They will field a fanless, worthless team for years and years to come.

Tragic. At least, for those in MN who love professional baseball.

I think you hit the nail on the head. 

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Or the other old business saying "The customer is always right" but not in their minds.

No business should believe that. 

[JD-TWINS]

Could be an A’s fan……..

I mean, Sacramento  fan…….

Obviously, not selling sucks but there are some pretty decent players coming 4-6 over next two seasons and 3-4 more just traded for and 7-9 on current 26 man along with Festa - SWR - Lopez all back at some point. They don’t need 9-10 capable starters going into ‘26…….. some body’s getting traded and/or shifted to the bullpen. 

If they spend $40M of the $70M they will have shed by end of ‘25 they’ll be good next season. I get everyone here likes to be negative so they can “be right” or “pleasantly surprised” in the future………MLB & Player’s Association won’t let them just not spend anything….. will effect revenue share.

To me they have 4 position player holes and 2 Pen holes to fill via FA and via youth. Very doable!!

Festa - Bradley - Abel - Matthews - SWR - Ober - Morris - Prielipp  - Raya - Soto…….have got to cover 3 PEN slots with this group…….10 guys, can’t be that tough. 2 guys in FA for Pen. (Coulombe type plus hard throwing RH - FA) Plus Topa - Sands - Funderburk.

Ryan & Lopez plus 3 from list above with 2 in the wings. Staff seems just fine to me, on paper.

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Could be an A’s fan……..

I mean, Sacramento  fan…….

Obviously, not selling sucks but there are some pretty decent players coming 4-6 over next two seasons and 3-4 more just traded for and 7-9 on current 26 man along with Festa - SWR - Lopez all back at some point. They don’t need 9-10 capable starters going into ‘26…….. some body’s getting traded and/or shifted to the bullpen. 

If they spend $40M of the $70M they will have shed by end of ‘25 they’ll be good next season. I get everyone here likes to be negative so they can “be right” or “pleasantly surprised” in the future………MLB & Player’s Association won’t let them just not spend anything….. will effect revenue share.

To me they have 4 position player holes and 2 Pen holes to fill via FA and via youth. Very doable!!

Festa - Bradley - Abel - Matthews - SWR - Ober - Morris - Prielipp  - Raya - Soto…….have got to cover 3 PEN slots with this group…….10 guys, can’t be that tough. 2 guys in FA for Pen. (Coulombe type plus hard throwing RH - FA) Plus Topa - Sands - Funderburk.

Ryan & Lopez plus 3 from list above with 2 in the wings. Staff seems just fine to me, on paper.

Soto? He's missed the entire year and is a HS kid still at this point. 

They aren't putting all the rest of the starters in the bullpen, you need 2-3 in waiting. Plus, they see more value of starters so they'll wait to convert others. 

Go look at the free agent list, and ask yourself who they would sign. They aren't signing a CF, 3b, SS, 2b. What corner OF that is good will sign for one year, given they have five or six OF in the majors, AAA and AA? That leaves first and catcher.......

[JD-TWINS]

42 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Soto? He's missed the entire year and is a HS kid still at this point. 

They aren't putting all the rest of the starters in the bullpen, you need 2-3 in waiting. Plus, they see more value of starters so they'll wait to convert others. 

Go look at the free agent list, and ask yourself who they would sign. They aren't signing a CF, 3b, SS, 2b. What corner OF that is good will sign for one year, given they have five or six OF in the majors, AAA and AA? That leaves first and catcher.......

It’s not Rocket Science - typical reaction from TD - Soto is one guy out of 29 mentioned. Whoever the 12th pitcher might be in organization ….. how’s that?

Maybe should re-read my slant on pitchers. Can’t have 11 starting Pitchers on the 40-man, IMO. Pretty sure I had 12 guys including Ryan & Lopez as starters now……5 to start year with 2-3 in waiting …… my math says there are at least 4-5 guys that are available to contribute in the Show outside of the rotation, while still continuing to develop in St Paul.

Wallner - Larnach/Roden - Buxton - Outman - Gonzalez - Rodriguez ……….Keaschall/Clemens for additional options in corners as well as on the dirt.

Lewis - Keaschall - Lee - Culpepper - Houston - Eeles ……..I’d try to utilize Jeffers as 3rd Catcher 2-3 times per month and play him regularly at 1B.

Offensive trade & FA targets at Catcher & DH……maybe a couple Pen arms.

[Morland]

I think this is as much about the Pohlads ego as anything else. They couldn't get the price they wanted for the Twins so they're not going to sell. I expect that this winter they'll sell (ooops, trade) Ryan, Lopez, and anyone else who makes more than the minimum salary. With the new minor partners and several years worth of profits the debt should be greatly reduced. Then the Pohlads will put the Twins up for sale again. And they hope they will receive the ego boost of being able to say we got the price we wanted. Which means Twins fans are sc***** for years. Go ahead Pohlads, prove me wrong!

[David HK]

We need to take a cue from these guys...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xthV6WShHaY

[David HK]

On 8/16/2025 at 9:15 AM, D.C Twins said:

This is the key... people need to vote with their feet.

A true and sustained mass exodus of the fan base will hurt the Pohlad's financially and that is all they will listen too. 

If they 'take their toys and go home' by selling the team outside of the state... so be it... we do not need to be held hostage to a rotten franchise. 

I can't help but think this is part of a cynical pohlad plan.  Piss off the base, sell off the assets, attendance at Targét plummets.

Ladies and gentlemen, presenting your 2028 Raleigh-Durham Twins.